Tuesday, December 4, 2012

On January 10, the former Providence & Worcester Railroad Depot in Woonsocket, RI was the lively scene of an open house, celebrating the successful transition from the Corridor Commission to its nonprofit successor: Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, Inc. The event showcased the partnership character of the Corridor program and the programs and projects of some of its many partners. Read More

Legislative UpdatesPlease be aware of three bills that have been introduced (or reintroduced) in the new Congress that are of great importance to Blackstone Valley: (1) to create a National Historical Park (reintroduced), (2) to extend/renew authorization for 12 National Heritage Areas facing sunset in 2012 (reintroduced) and (3) to create a program of National Heritage Areas within the National Park Service (new legislation).Read More

Monday, December 3, 2012

When this year's calendar expires, turn the page to celebrate the sights and scenes depicted in the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, Inc. 2013 Calendar. Order your 2013 calendar today! (Read More...)

Saturday, November 10, 2012

The Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor invites you to participate in a meeting to review the results of the Blackstone Valley Prioritization Project.The project is intended to create a regional vision, and to guide the future investment of limited public sector resources.

The meeting is being organized by the Central Mass. Regional Planning Commission (CMRPC) in order to discuss the results of this collaboration with local communities to develop priorities for development and preservation in each of the towns as well as throughout the Region.CMRPC will present the prioritization results and identify next steps on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 at Alternatives Unlimited in Whitinsville.There will be an open house from 6-7 pm, during which time people are free to review maps and materials.The meeting will be from 7-9 pm.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

On October 11, 2012, a groundbreaking for Massachusetts Segment 1 of the Blackstone River Bike Path was held. An enthusiastic crowd heard remarks from U.S. Representative James McGovern, Massachusetts Lt. Governor Timothy Murray, Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Richard Sullivan, Director of Conservation and Recreation Edward Lambert, State Senator Richard T. Moore, State Representative George Peterson, and Blackstone Selectwoman Margo Bik. Congressman McGovern described the project as a “Win, win, win, win, win, win” for the entire Blackstone Valley.

Thursday, November 1, 2012

The Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor invites you to participate in a meeting to review the results of the Blackstone Valley Prioritization Project.The project is intended to create a regional vision, and to guide the future investment of limited public sector resources.

The meeting is being organized by the Central Mass. Regional Planning Commission (CMRPC) in order to discuss the results of this collaboration with local communities to develop priorities for development and preservation in each of the towns as well as throughout the Region.CMRPC will present the prioritization results and identify next steps on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 at Alternatives Unlimited in Whitinsville.There will be an open house from 6-7 pm, during which time people are free to review maps and materials.The meeting will be from 7-9 pm.

The communities of Blackstone, Douglas, Grafton, Hopedale, Mendon, Millbury, Millville, Northbridge, Sutton, Upton, and Uxbridge all participated in the Blackstone Valley Prioritization Project.CMRPC collected data for the project through meetings with local/town staff members, Boards of Selectmen, and other participants, as well as reviews of master plans, open space plans, and other community documents.

The final result of the project will be a set of priorities for protection, development and transportation improvements throughout the Blackstone Valley.These priorities are intended help decision-making about specific development and preservation opportunities at the local, regional, and state levels.It is also anticipated that future grant and funding decisions in Massachusetts will give preference to projects identified through this effort.

The John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor is actively participating in this endeavor.“The Corridor Commission has always believed that sustainable economic development and heritage preservation are not mutually exclusive but go hand in hand,” said Donna Williams, President of the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, Inc.“Our historic and natural resources are economic assets, and a healthy economy helps us take care of those resources.Improving transportation and other infrastructure not only helps our businesses, but, if done right, it can help us protect our natural and historic resources.”The Corridor is especially interested in the regional approach taken by CMRPC.“It is critical that our Towns are communicating with one another so that local actions in one community are consistent with the priorities of its neighbors,” according to Williams.“What makes the Blackstone Valley such a special place is not just individual sites or structures, but the totality of those sites that make it a Heritage Corridor, and we should try to protect our larger landscapes, as well as drive appropriate redevelopment.”

At a meeting on November 13th, CMRPC staff will describe how projects might be classified as “regionally significant.” Regionally significant development, preservation and infrastructure projects are expected to receive priority for funding in a variety of competitive state-level programs.

In addition, there will be a panel discussion of how this information can be put to use in the real world of daily business and local government.Participants for the panel are still being finalized, but will include prominent business owners and developers, as well as advocates of combining economic development and preservation into a joint strategy for achieving strong and sustainable communities.

The public meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 13th in the theatre at Alternatives Unlimited, Inc., Whitin Mill Complex, on 50 Douglas Road in Whitinsville, MA.There will be an Open House from 6:00 to 7:00 PM, with the presentation and panel discussion beginning at 7:00 PM.For more information, contact the CMRPC at 508-756-7717 or see the project website at http://cmrpc.org/bvpp

The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation hosted a long-awaited Groundbreaking Ceremony in October.

With nearly a hundred people on hand, state and local political leaders heralded the work which began this fall to reconstruct a number of bridges in Segment 1, located in Blackstone, Millville and Uxbridge, MA. The design for this segment of the bike path through the Blackstone River Greenway is wrapping up, and DCR hopes to see additional construction through 2013.

In addition to the groundbreaking ceremony on October 11th, the Woonsocket RI City Council voted on October 15 to designate a temporary on-road bike route through that City while the official Blackstone River Bike route is in design. The on-road route will be marked with signage, and also with “sharrows” painted on the roadways.

Sharrows are shared lane pavement markings. They are graphics showing that bicycles are welcome in the travel lane of a roadway. Of course, this is nothing new, as bicycles are intended to be travelling in the travel lanes of a roadway. The pavement markings are intended to help remind motorists to share the road with other users, including bicycles.

Many thanks to the NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley, which is providing the funding for this work through a grant program. Thanks, as well, to the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council for making their sharrow stencil available for this project.

We hope that the signage and stencils will be installed in the early spring 2013.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

THE STORY CONTINUES

Weaving the Story of the Valley

Part Two of a Three-Part Interpretive Institute

Please join us for this special program that has been specifically designed for leaders, decision-makers, and interpretive staff in Blackstone Valley partner organizations. You need not have attended Session 1 to attend Session 2 and/or Session 3.

At the next workshop, we'll be discussing the craft of interpretation, developing an interpretive menu for your site, and matching sites and stories to valley-wide themes through collaborations.

Friday, October 19, 2012

Please join us for this special program that has been specifically designed for leaders, decision-makers, and interpretive staff in Blackstone Valley partner organizations.

Throughout the program, we will explore the interpretive threads that weave our Valley's story and how identifying those threads can help your site and potentially benefit from a potential new National Park . We will also look at how Blackstone Valley organizations can work together to provide a cohesive experience for the visitor using these threads.

We are pleased to have Stephanie P. Fortunato Deputy Director of Providence's Department of Art, Culture + Tourism as our facilitator. Ms. Fortunato will use draw on her experience working with cultural policy and creative placemaking projects to help us explore the interpretive story of the valley. Ms. Fortunato manages projects related to the implementation of the Creative Providence cultural plan, partnerships, and the administration of research studies about Providence's creative sector. She received her M.A. in Public Humanities from Brown University and a B.A. in Humanities from Providence College.

At the first session, Ms. Fortunato will present and discuss the implications of a gap analysis study that was conducted last spring with Blackstone Valley interpretive sites and programs. The study looked at core interpretive themes for the Blackstone Valley and how sites are using them to help tell their individual stories.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

The John H Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor is pleased to announce a new lesson plan for Grades 3 to 6. The lesson plan, entitled It Takes A Village: Mills and the Rhode Island System of Manufacturing, looks at life in the Ashton mill village, highlighting the Captain Wilbur Kelly House Museum operated by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. This curriculum was created with funding from the National Park Service’s Northeast Region through the Teacher-Ranger-Teacher program. The lesson plan, along with supporting documents and three 30-minute videos, can be downloaded for free from the Corridor Commission’s website at http://www.nps.gov/blac/forteachers/curriculummaterials.htm.

According to National Park Ranger Kevin Klyberg, "the Corridor Commission received a $3,000 grant through the NPS Teacher-Ranger-Teacher program that allowed us to hire Ms. Karen Bryant, a second grade teacher in Northampton, Massachusetts to work as a park ranger and also produce this new lesson plan for us."

"Kudos to the Blackstone Heritage Corridor Commission for developing a new elementary school lesson plan that focuses on early life in the mill village of Ashton," said DEM Director Janet Coit. "This is a great hands-on opportunity for students to learn about the history of the Blackstone River and the Blackstone Canal and see how changes in transportation transformed life in the mill villages. We're delighted that students will tour the interactive transportation museum at DEM's Kelly House as part of this new curriculum - this will certainly help bring the rich history of the Blackstone Valley to life for the students!"

Director Coit commended the Corridor Commission for working in partnership with DEM to connect Rhode Islanders to important historic and scenic natural places in the Blackstone Valley, including Kelly House and the Blackstone State Park and Bikeway. "Providing the public with improved access to these Blackstone Valley jewels is a real partnership effort that contributes to the tremendous quality of life we enjoy in beautiful Rhode Island."

Ms. Bryant said that she "enjoyed learning the rich history of the Blackstone Valley, and feeling like I was part of a talented team doing important interpretation work. This has been one of the best professional development experiences I have ever had, and I am thankful to have joined the NPS this summer in their mission to educate and inspire current and future generations about the historic and cultural resources of our country."

The new lesson plan teaches students about what life was like in a mill village. First, the students are presented a brief overview of Wilbur Kelly’s mill and village. Then, the students are divided into three groups – mill owners, mill workers and farmers. Each group is then given a small collection of images and historic documents to learn a little more about what life in Old Ashton would have been like for the different types of workers there.

According to Ranger Klyberg, "We decided to focus on Ashton because it is one of the villages in the proposal to create a new National Park here in the Blackstone Valley, and this seemed like a great opportunity to bring that story to a wider audience. We also hope that teachers in the region will use this lesson, and then take their classes to the Kelly House to help them get a better understanding of what life was like for mill workers here in the Blackstone River Valley."

Sunday, September 30, 2012

The Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor invites you to participate in a meeting to review the results of the Blackstone Valley Prioritization Project.The project is intended to create a regional vision, and to guide the future investment of limited public sector resources.

The meeting is being organized by the Central Mass. Regional Planning Commission (CMRPC) in order to discuss the results of this collaboration with local communities to develop priorities for development and preservation in each of the towns as well as throughout the Region.CMRPC will present the prioritization results and identify next steps on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 at Alternatives Unlimited in Whitinsville.There will be an open house from 6-7 pm, during which time people are free to review maps and materials.The meeting will be from 7-9 pm.

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Please see the two maps below for the latest information on the progress of the Blackstone River Bikeway in both Massachusetts and Rhode Island. there is new information as of as of August 30, 2012. Using these charts, you will see that many segments are in design or have construction slated to begin soon.

Friday, August 3, 2012

Please see the two maps below for the latest information as of August 2, 2012 on the progress of the Blackstone River Bikeway in both Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Using these charts, you will see that many segments are in design or have construction slated to begin soon.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Eighty-seven National Parks from across the country are participating in the Civil War to Civil Rights Trading Card program with a total of 550 different trading cards covering unique individuals of national importance to the Civil War story. The John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor itself has five trading cards including a soldier, a formerly enslaved man, and Civil Rights activists from the Valley. Cards will be available at a number of Blackstone Valley events and sites throughout the summer.

How To Get Cards

The cards are intended to encourage dialog about the Civil War and Civil Rights.As a result, cards must be earned.No cards will be mailed, and sets can only be collected by fulfilling specific requirements to receive a card.However, the requirements are not difficult.In most cases, you will be required to ask a question, make a comment, or engage a ranger or one of our partners in a dialog about the Civil War or Civil Rights.See the chart for dates, times, and locations where cards will be available.

Collect All Five Heritage Corridor Cards To Receive A Commemorative Ribbon Bookmark

Once you have collected a complete set of the five Heritage Corridor cards:

1.Bring the cards to show to a staff member at Heritage Corridor at One Depot Square in Woonsocket, RI between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM any weekday (except holidays).

2.Bring the cards to show to a Corridor representative at the Civil War talk on August 23 at the Worcester Historical Museum.

3.Bring the cards to show to a Ranger at the Pawtucket Visitor Center on any Saturday or Sunday during their open hours between June 30 and September 15

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Language is no barrier when it comes to Hachiko, the legendary Japanese dog.A visitor stopped to see the new bronze sculpture at the Heritage Corridor last week.Although he spoke little English, he was able to communicate to me how happy he was to see the new “American Hachiko,” as he called it.The dog statue, a replica of one in Japan, was recently unveiled here at the Heritage Corridor’s headquarters where an American version of the Hachiko story was filmed starring Richard Gere.In the movie, based on a true story from the 1920’s in Japan, Hachiko waits each day at the train station for his owner to return for years after his owner died.

After a short attempt at conversation, the visitor signaled that he would get his laptop from his car.We set the laptop up on my desk, where the visitor typed in Japanese into a translating program allowing me to read it in English.I replied in English on my desktop computer, also using a translator, so that the man could read it in Japanese.Through this method, the gentleman was able to tell me that he was in the U.S. for an extended visit.He indicated that he was traveling from New York to Boston and that he scheduled the detour to Woonsocket after he heard about the “American Hachiko” from friends in Japan via e-mail.

We typed back and forth for a while about his trip, the sculpture, and the story of Hachiko.He explained that the story of our dog statue was “big news in Japan.”Using his laptop, he showed me several newspaper stories and a video from a Japanese television station that covered the story of the sculpture’s unveiling at the Heritage Corridor’s office on May 19.When the video finished, he typed, “The Japanese people are very touched by this.”

Before he left, my colleague, Barbara Dixon, gave him the program brochure that was given out at the unveiling ceremony.When I typed the explanation of what the brochure was, he gave a broad smile and then typed “This is very special.”

Since the statue was unveiled, there have been many visitors here taking photos.But the first tourist from Japan, whose name I never got, will always be the one I remember the most.The Japanese people aren’t the only ones who are touched by this.

UPDATE, AUGUST 2, 2012

Today, while sitting at my desk, I looked up to see my Japanese visitor from last June walking in carrying a large banner.Once we got our computers set up again, he indicated that the banner was a gift.The banner says Hachiko in Japanese.Below that in English are listed the Japanese and American locations of the twin Hachiko statues. He typed, “This is a symbol of US-Japanese friendship.”

He then explained that he had brought a box of the flags that could be offered in exchange for a donation.When asked what the donations would be for, he explained that he would like to see a new stone plaque next to the dog statue written in both English and Japanese.(The current plaque is in English only.)

I am rarely speechless, but this gesture left me with no words to explain how astounded and grateful I was for his generosity.I continue to be moved by the Hachiko story and by the value placed on Hachiko’s loyalty by the Japanese public. Now I am equally touched by the generosity of this gentleman who had the flags produced and shipped from Japan so that the "American Hachiko" would have a new plaque for both Japanese and American visitors.

This time, I remembered to get his name.Thank you, Mr. Morita.

HOW TO GET A FLAG

The flags have been sent to the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council who will be working on a donation program.Stay tuned….

Saturday, June 23, 2012

The John H Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor is once again offering a series of Thursday Night Walkabouts this summer. Each Thursday this summer the National Park Rangers, or one of our volunteer partners, will offer a free program somewhere in the Blackstone Valley - a chance for you to explore part of the history or natural beauty of the Valley we call home.

One focus of the Walkabouts this year will be the Bicentennial celebration of the War of 1812. Although no battles were fought here, the Blackstone Valley was greatly transformed by the war. According to Ranger Kevin Klyberg, “the War of 1812, and the international embargoes that led up to it, were the key elements to the “cotton mill fever” that swept across the Blackstone Valley between 1807 and 1815. With the importation of British textiles cut off, the number of cotton spinning mills in the Blackstone Valley jumped from eight mills in 1809, to forty-two mills in 1815. Along with the new mills came the first mill villages, truly establishing the industrial landscape that is the hallmark of the Blackstone Valley story.”

Other highlights of the 2012 Walkabout series include new programs about the construction of a new fish ladder at the Pawtucket Falls, and a tour highlighting Charles Dickens’ two visits to Worcester. The season kicks off with a visit to Hopedale, Massachusetts. From religious commune to factory town, Hopedale has a long and vibrant history. Beginning with a small group of religious idealist seeking to create a perfect community, Hopedale evolved into the home of the largest manufacturer of looms in America at the Draper Corporation. The tour begins at the Hopedale Unitarian Church, 65 Hopedale Street, Hopedale, MA 01747.

WALKABOUT SCHEDULE

June 21

Slatersville: America’s First Planned Village

Meet at North Smithfield Public Library, 20 North Main Street

June 28

Roger Williams’ Providence

Meet at Roger Williams National Memorial, 282 North Main Street

July 5

Blackstone and the War of 1812

Meet at Blackstone Municipal Center, 15 St. Paul St., Blackstone, MA

July 12

Millbury: Asa Waters, Armory Village, and the Building of a New Nation, Meet atAsa Waters Mansion, 123 Elm Street

July 19

Historical Cemetery Walk

Meeting place TBA

July 26

Rogerson’s Village, Uxbridge

Meet at Progressive Club Parking Lot

18 Whitin St

August 2

Great Road and the War of 1812

Meet at Hearthside House, Great Road, Lincoln, RI

August 9

Sargent’s Trench/Fish Ladder

Meet at Slater Mill Historic Site, 67 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket

August 16

Ashton Village

Meet at Kelly House

Lincoln, RI

August 23

Civil War in the Blackstone Valley (Talk)

Worcester Historical Museum, Worcester, MA

August 30

Charles Dickens’ Worcester

Meeting place TBA

Worcester, MA

September 6

The Strike of 1934

Meeting Place TBA

Saylesville, RI

September 13

New Date!TBA

All programs start at 6:30 PM and are free.Programs are cancelled in the case of lightning.

Friday, June 22, 2012

The Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission (CMRP) is currently working on a collaborative project with local communities to look at growth, specifically in the areas of development, land preservation, higher education, and infrastructure.The project will result in a set of priorities for development and preservation in each of the towns as well as within the region.The communities of Blackstone, Douglas, Grafton, Hopedale, Mendon, Millbury, Millville, Northbridge, Sutton, Upton, and Uxbridge are included in this effort.CMRPC has been collecting data for the project through meetings with staff members, Boards of Selectmen, and other participants, as well as reviews of master plans, open space plans, and other community documents.

The final result of the project will be a set of priorities for protection, development and transportation improvements throughout the Blackstone Valley.These priorities will help decision-making about specific activities connected to development and preservation at the local, regional, and state levels.It is also anticipated that future grant and funding decisions in Massachusetts will give preference to projects identified through this effort.

The John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor is actively participating in this endeavor.“The Corridor Commission has always believed that sustainable economic development and heritage preservation are not mutually exclusive but go hand in hand,” said Donna Williams, chair of the Commission.“Our historic and natural resources are economic assets, and a healthy economy helps us take care of those resources.Improving transportation and other infrastructure not only helps our businesses, but, if done right, it can help us protect our natural and historic resources.”The Commission is especially interested in the regional approach taken by CMRPC.“It is critical that our Towns pool their resources to address challenges and opportunities that are really regional in scale,” according to Williams.“And let’s not forget that what makes the Blackstone Valley such a special place is not just individual sites or structures, and that we should try to protect our larger landscapes, as well.”

At a public forum on June 26th, CMRPC staff will present information and maps showing the areas that have been identified as locally significant in each town.These may include specific sites, districts, neighborhoods, landscapes, water resources, and infrastructure elements.During the forum, citizens and interested parties will have an opportunity to review the data and the maps, give feedback about areas they feel are important to emphasize and discuss how to balance development and preservation.

The public forum will be held on Thursday, June 26th in the cafeteria at Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School in Upton, MA.There will be an Open House from 5:30 to 6:30, with the presentation and public forum beginning at 7:00 PM.For more information, contact the CMRPC at 508.756.7717 or see the website at http://cmrpc.org/bvpp.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

River Bend Farm Visitor’s Center, 287 Oak Street, Uxbridge, MA will be the venue on Friday, June 1st for “Rally for the Valley” 3:30- 7pm to bring attention to the Blackstone Valley National Historic Park initiative introduced in Congress last October.

Members of Congress from both RI and MA sponsored federal legislation that would create a National Historical Park within the Corridor, forever highlighting the role of the Blackstone Valley in our nation's history, protecting its historic as well as natural resources, and stimulating our local and regional economy.Help us spread the word about the “Rally for the Valley”

3:30-5:30 Family Fun activities, over 40 vendor tables, kayaking, biking, wagon rides, historic interpreters, visit with Smokey Bear, Orson the Polar Bear and “Paws” the Pawsox Mascot, Children sporting event demonstrations, Polar Beverages will conduct samplings, radio station WCRN is broadcasting live! The Hanover Theatre, will be participating with fun activities to promote the upcoming production of “Mary Poppins”.

5:00 the USAF Band of Liberty Brass Quintet will perform, and the Veterans Inc. Color Guard representing all branches of the armed forces will make a presentation.

5:30 we will hear from our legislators and special guests with live and prerecorded presentations.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Spring is a wonderful time to get out and explore. There are some very special outdoor spots in the Blackstone Valley. Here are just a few.

Blackstone River & Canal Heritage State Park
Uxbridge, MA
The Blackstone Canal closed in 1868, but intact pieces of the canal remain in this scenic park. You can take a gentle stroll along the remains of a tow path once used by horses to pull canal boats down the Blackstone Canal. Or take a longer walk to Goat Hill lock where tall stone walls remain from one of 48 locks that once lifted and lowered boats along the canal.

Blackstone River Bikeway
Woonsocket, Lincoln, and Cumberland, RI
Walk or ride your bike along the 10.5 miles of paved path along riverbanks, through quiet woodlands, and across a scenic marsh via a wooden boardwalk. A hidden treasure in Northern RI.

Purgatory Chasm State Park
Sutton, MA
If you love scrambling across rocks, Purgatory Chasm is the place for you! Tall granite walls lead to a deep quarter-mile long chasm. In some places, the walls rise as high as 70 feet above the chasm floor.

Lincoln Woods State Park
Lincoln, RI
A lovely pond is the centerpiece to this park. There are picnic sites, a beautiful meadow, and several walking trails. Don't miss the covered bridge at one end of the park. Wildflowers are plentiful this time of year.

Looking for more great things to do in the Valley?
Check out the Explore and Calendar sections of our website.